Papa smiled, and plucked Little One’s nose right off of his face, holding it tightly for a moment between his first and second fingers before planting it firmly back where it belonged. Little One giggled as papa turned off the light.

Good night, Little One.

–Good night Papa. Will I see it tomorrow, papa, will you show me the secret tomorrow?

Tomorrow, yes. Tomorrow you’ll see it!

But tomorrow he didn’t see it, nor the day after that, nor the day after that. And soon he grew too old to care about his father’s prestidigitation, and he grew to care about his schoolwork and his friends, and his career. And one day, he grew to care about her.

Soon enough, he sat once again at his father’s side, and watched his Papa smile at the new Little One presented before him. He watched as Papa grabbed a coin from the child’s ear and said, “There, you see?”

New Little One giggled.

-No PawPaw, do it again!

This time, he saw his father’s magic, discerned his sleight of hand. He marveled, and looked at his father in amazement. Papa grinned and said, “Yes, son, I can see that it is finally tomorrow.” And he watched his son pluck the nose right off his grandson’s face, holding it tightly between his first and second fingers for a moment before planting it firmly back where it belonged. He patted his son on the back and there was a silent passing of knowledge between them.

New Little One gasped and said, “Papa, how do you and PawPaw do magic?”